Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Cloisonne Charger of Heavenly Musician

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The beauty of Japanese Cloisonne objects is the unique quality of the design. This charger here is really a painting … Read more The beauty of Japanese Cloisonne objects is the unique quality of the design. This charger here is really a painting done in the cloisonne method. The painting is uniquely Japanese. The center of the painter is a beautiful lady - a Buddhist heavenly musician - APSARAS, or TENNIN in Japanese. The Tennin is holding a sheng, a wind instrument from China. Her floating scarves mark her as a heavenly being, a musician. She occupied most of the open fan, some of the the ribs are apparently broken. In the foreground are a variety of mushrooms, and a sprig of blossoms. The largest one is shaped like a TSUBA, (sword guard), and a sword hilt is at the background. Such interesting combinations of tennin, swords, mushrooms and flowers in a composition can only be found in Japanese art. The black background is fitting so the other images "pop." The charger is not signed. By the way it was made, it is an early example, in the second half of the 19 century, way before what we consider the golden age of Japanese Cloisonne. See less